My wife's 1997 fj80 has 230,000 miles on it and rear main seal is leaking pretty bad. On a scale 1-10, how hard is it to do? Wife can't be without rig for too long, just wondering if I could do the job myself? Also contemplating trading it in for a lx 470.
Decision time
- Thread starter mac 10
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
You have to drop the ds and get the transmission unbolted. There are some connectors on the trans that are a bit of a pain, but the big problem, at least for me, is the transmission bolts. There are several guys on here who said they were able to get them with 30'' worth of extensions. Others are unbolting the motor mounts and lowering the engine a bit to get the access. That should give you an idea of what your in for.
Also, are you sure its your rear main and not your oil pan seals leaking ? The oil pans on these trucks are a common leak area and can make you think its the rear main.
Also, are you sure its your rear main and not your oil pan seals leaking ? The oil pans on these trucks are a common leak area and can make you think its the rear main.
- Thread starter
- #3
I really didn't look that close. it's leaving a pretty big oil slick where she parks. adding a qt a week. Daily driver for her running kids around then 45 mile trip to airport twice a week! Anyway of checking oil pan seal? thank you
Changing the seal is cake once the transmission is out of the way! All joking aside, it is a pretty major undertaking. Following the FSM step by step makes the project very doable if you have some level of mechanical ability. Connectors are a bear as mentioned above but once the left front wheel is removed the task becomes much easier. Utilize a nice transmission jack to make your life much easier and safer. I was able to access the top bell housing bolts fairly easily from above through the tunnel (once shift levers removed) with a very long extension, the weight of the transmission and transfer will lower the rear of the engine as you lower the jack a bit once the cross member support is removed, making getting the sockets on those bolts a bit easier.
Check the Rear Arch seal...(or whatever it's called).
That's usually the cause I've read...
That's usually the cause I've read...
My '97 was having the same issue, leaking real bad, thought it was the rear arch seal so I did that job at home, not so easy... Finished up, fired it up, still leaking. Took it to a good independent shop, diagnosed in fact the rear main was leaking, they swapped it out for $800, no more leaks. I looked at doing the rear main myself, looked like a real pain, best $800 I ever spent.
Easy way to tell the difference is take off the inspection rubber cover on the bottom of trans bell housing. Take a small inspection mirror and you can see the rear main seal. If it's all wet in there then its leaking. If not its your upper arch sealing. Mine was leaking pretty severe and it was the upper arch sealing. Most that leak in this area is the upper arch
- Thread starter
- #8
Hey Guys, pulled in garage today, Snooped around a bit, At first glance the oil plug had a drip on it, Went to wipe it off and plug turned with rag??? The local shop that does the oil maint. forgot to tighten at last oil change(2 months ago). One more reason to take to dealership if your too busy, instead of the local oil and lube! I pulled rubber seal off and checked main seal and appears to good. Hope all is good now. Thanks for all the good info. BTW Bought a 2002 lexus lx470. Trying to justify keeping the 80. I'd rather sell my work truck!!!
